Diagnosing oral cancer
Your doctor may suspect you have oral cancer after talking with you about your health and completing a physical examination. The examination includes looking at the roof and floor of your mouth, the back of your throat and the insides of the cheeks and lips. Your tongue will be pulled out gently so that the doctor can carefully check the sides of the tongue and underneath it. The doctor will also feel the lymph nodes in your neck. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will arrange special tests. These tests may also be used to “stage” the cancer. You may have one or more of the following tests.
Biopsy
A biopsy is usually necessary to make a definite diagnosis of cancer. If oral cancer is suspected, cells are removed from the mouth and checked under a microscope. A local anesthetic (freezing) may be used. A general anesthetic (you will be unconscious) is used if the abnormal area or tumour is in a sensitive area, such as the upper throat or the base of the tongue.
Endoscopy
Your doctor may do an endoscopic examination to check your throat, windpipe and lungs. Endoscopy uses a thin, flexible tube with a light at the end (called an endoscope). The doctor inserts the tube through your nose or mouth. If an abnormal area is found, the doctor may be able to take several samples of tissue through the endoscope for examination under a microscope. This is called an endoscopic biopsy. During endoscopy, you'll probably be given a mild anesthetic. If the doctor takes tissue samples, you may need a general anesthetic. You will have a sore throat afterwards. This is normal and should disappear after a couple of days.
Imaging studies
Imaging studies allow tissues, organs and bones to be looked at in more detail. Using x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans or MRIs, your healthcare team can get a picture of the size of the tumour and see if it has spread. These tests are usually painless and do not require an anesthetic.
If your doctor suspects that you have oral cancer, you'll likely have a CT or MRI scan taken of your head and neck. To see if you have cancer in your jaw bone and to check the gums, you may have a panoramic (dental) x-ray. During this procedure, a special x-ray machine moves around your head in a half circle from ear to ear to create a wide image of the teeth and jaw bone.
Further testing
If the initial tests show that you have oral cancer, your doctor may order more imaging studies to find out if the cancer has spread. You may also have blood tests done to find out how well your organs are working.
Last modified on:
13 April 2011
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